Main menu

Peabody Museum Policies on Filming in the Galleries

Educational & Commercial Publication

The Museum welcomes the public, media, and research interest in the galleries and collections, and we try to accommodate requests to photograph, video tape, or film in the galleries whenever possible.

The Museum allows researchers, media, and commercial filmmakers to photograph objects or exhibits or use the galleries as a backdrop only with prior permission from the Museum, and with the payment of a fee.

Anyone photographing Museum collections or in the galleries must sign an agreement covering terms, conditions, procedures, and intellectual property rights before photographing or filming.

Fees & Procedures

The location fee for filming is $1,500 per day, or $750 per half-day. This fee is payable to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology upon the commencement of filming.

A list of locations to be filmed must be provided to the Peabody Museum prior to filming with at least two-weeks' advance notice. Selecting these locations might require an advance visit to the Peabody by the filmmaker. Secure storage areas are not available. All logistical concerns, such as freight elevator access and availability, power supply, etc., must be arranged prior to filming.

A schedule for filming must be agreed upon in advance with the Peabody Museum. Filming hours are on weekdays only, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Filming after 5 p.m. or on holidays is not permitted. All filming days must start in the morning, even if only a half-day is anticipated.

Museum artifacts may be handled only by Peabody Museum-designated personnel. A responsible staff member will be present at all times during the filming to facilitate the project.

A list of artifacts to be filmed must be provided to the Peabody Museum prior to filming with at least two-weeks' advance notice. Selecting these artifacts might require an advance visit to the Peabody by the filmmaker.

No equipment or weight should be placed on or against exhibit cases.

Exhibit cases cannot be opened for filming without prior arrangement.

Galleries may not be closed to the public during filming without prior arrangement. The third-floor galleries also serve as emergency exit routes and may not be closed under any circumstances.

All personnel associated with the filming will be issued a badge that must be worn at all times. Persons found filming in the galleries without a badge will be asked to leave.

The Peabody Museum will provide a contract that must be signed prior to filming.

Permission to film or photograph in the Peabody Museum galleries does not extend to the galleries of the Harvard Museum of Natural History, located in the same building. Permission to film in HMNH galleries must be requested from HMNH (Blue Magruder, 617-496-0049, bmagruder@oeb.harvard.edu).

Payment of location use or rental fees does not constitute an endorsement by the Peabody Museum of products and services portrayed in the final product.

Contacts

Permission to photograph or film in the Museum may be granted only by the External Relations office. Requests of any kind from the media and all requests for photography or filming in the galleries should be directed to:

ID Badges

Persons with permission to film or photograph in the galleries will be issued a special ID and will be accompanied by a Peabody Staff person. Persons found filming in the galleries without a badge will be asked to leave.

Examples of situations covered by these procedures include:

An interviewer who wishes to photograph a faculty member in the galleries for an article,

A commercial or non-profit filmmaker who wishes to use the galleries as a backdrop,

A visiting researcher who wishes to photograph an exhibit or an object on display for publication or research use.